When do parks open and close?
Parks are open daily. Urban parks are open from 5:00am to 11:00pm. Mountain parks are open from one hour before sunrise until one hour after sunset. Remaining in any park property after hours is prohibited.
How can I report a problem in a park?
Residents should report issues to pocketgov.com or 311 (720-913-1311) so that a case can be generated, routed to the appropriate agency/team, tracked and closed.
How can I report park rule violations?
Park users who witness behavior that violates Denver Parks and Recreation (DPR) Rules and Regulations can report the activity while it is occurring to the Denver Park Ranger Office by calling 311 (720-913-1311). Depending on resources available, a Ranger can be dispatched to the area to further assess the situation. For emergencies, call 911.
Sept 2020 Update on the Cranmer Park Sundial Plaza Restoration Project
by Denise Sanderson
BOWS in Cranmer Park
The Patrick Marold sculpture, BOWS, was recently installed in Cranmer Park, along the path to Second Avenue. Resting atop flagstone pavers, which coordinate with the flagstone terrace, BOWS is a series of gestural lifts which briefly interrupt the viewer’s spatial perception and lift the viewer’s attention above the horizon. Marold says, “The BOWS in Cranmer Park are simply line gestures in space, arching with the viewer’s perspective and composing points of view.”
Growing up in Wheat Ridge, CO, Marold had relatives living near Cranmer Park, and vividly remembers visiting the park as a child. He was impressed with the panoramic view of the Front Range, and the concept of “this is where the earth meets the sky.” Marold recalled this early childhood experience in a recent interview saying “While it was impressive as a child, after growing up and traveling the world, I’ve come to realize that this broad panoramic view is a truly Western experience. The 150-mile view, from Longs Peak to Pikes Peak, forces a change in one’s perception of the world, as the sky is a much more prominent part of the vision here.”
Photo by the artist Patrick Marold – click on photo to enlarge
With one set of BOWS located in front of the passageway, park visitors are invited to experience this part of the park they may not have noticed previously. Many park visitors do not realize that the lawn area between Belo Horizonte and the front of the Cherry Street homes is part of the park, including the passageway to Second Avenue. Those who approach the park from the east will be welcomed by the BOWS, encouraged to look forward as the sculptures lead the eye into the broader park area ahead, to the Sundial resting atop the plaza, and the horizon beyond.
A recent park visitor described the art in this way: “I visited the park on both rainy and sunny days to see the new artwork. I didn’t immediately love it, but on the second sunnier day, as I approached BOWS, the rays of the sun danced off the metal in a beautiful way.” This comment reflects the artist’s intention: “the stainless-steel finish will allow the individual lines of BOWS to vary in character and visibility throughout the day with the changing light. The sculpture is meant to be interactive – as a visitor walks around the individual installations, they will see the art in different ways.”
Photo by the artist Patrick Marold – click on photo to enlarge
Patrick Marold is a Colorado artist well known for his other art installations. SUN SILO is in the Lowry Community Park at Lowry Boulevard and Pontiac Street, close to the playground. SHADOW ARRAY, at Denver International Airport, is composed of 250 beetle-kill logs that utilize the solar exposure of the valley south of the terminal and hotel surrounding the train arrival area. This art is best viewed from the train, as one physically moves through the art. A stationary view from the airport hotel also allows a visitor a more comprehensive view than merely driving by on the airport access road. Visit patrickmarold.com for more images of his work around the world.
BOWS was funded by the Save Our Sundial reconstruction of the sundial plaza through Denver’s Public Arts Program. Any City project with a budget exceeding $1 million must set aside 1% for public art to which must be placed close to the project. The Patten-Davis Foundation donated additional funds for the public art, ensuring a sufficient budget to accommodate a larger artwork in appropriate scale to the 23-acre park.
August 2020 Update on the Cranmer Park Sundial Plaza Restoration Project
by Denise Sanderson
Public Art to Arrive in Cranmer Park Soon
Installation of a new piece of public art will begin in mid-August in Cranmer Park. This art will complete the final phase of the Sundial Plaza restoration project. All City projects with budgets exceeding $1 million must set aside 1% for the inclusion of public art. Since the budget for this project was quite small, and the park so large, a private foundation provided additional funding so the artwork would be appropriate for Cranmer.
The Cranmer Park selection committee chose a local artist, Patrick Marold. The selection panel also considered location of the art – it could not interfere with the panoramic view of the mountains to the west, it could not be located in/near the playing fields, and it should not interfere with the view of the park from the homes on the eastern boundary. Marold’s sculpture will be located near the pathway that connects Second Avenue to Belo Horizonte Drive.
Over the past 30 years, Denver’s Public Art Program has installed more than 300 works of art that join 100 additional historic and donated pieces located throughout the city. These artworks are selected through a public process that engages, residents, civic leaders, artists, and arts professionals. Each public art project is specific to its location and each selection panel is unique. For more information on Denver’s Public Art Collection, visit and explore Denver Public Art.
A Bit of History About the Park
The land for Cranmer Park was acquired in 1908, with the first recorded reference to any site development occurring in 1923, when construction began on the terrazzo terrace. The park was originally named Mountain View Park for excellent view of the Front Range from the terrace plaza platform. Mountain profiles and notable Front Range landmarks were etched in the terrazzo creating a mosaic panorama of Colorado’s mountain range, which mimic the breathtaking view. The terrazzo construction as well as the park flower beds were funded by the Works Progress Administration (WPA).
The sundial was installed in 1941, and was based on an ancient Chinese sundial, out of quartzite stone quarried in Lyons. It was donated by longtime Manager of Denver Parks George E. Cranmer, for whom the park is now named. The original sundial was destroyed by vandals who exploded dynamite under it in September 1965. The destructive incident prompted a community-wide effort to reconstruct a replica of the sundial, led by city officials, members of the Junior Chamber of Commerce, residents, and business leaders and installed in 1966.
Over the years, the Sundial Terrace and its terrazzo panorama has deteriorated due to weather, drainage issues and a poor foundation. A campaign to raise awareness and funding for a more thorough restoration of the entire plaza began in 2010.
The Partnership to Save the Sundial at Cranmer Park
Denver Parks and Recreation (DPR) launched an innovative public-private partnership with the Save Our Sundial Project and The Park People to spearhead the restoration of the Sundial Terrace at Cranmer Park. The restoration project encompassed reconstructing the terrazzo panorama, repairing the sundial, and rebuilding the foundation of the terrace. Renovation of this important site is necessary to restore the architectural significance and aesthetic beauty of the plaza. Costs for this project were projected to be $1.8 million.
In April of 2017, the Save Our Sundial Project announced they had reached their goal and matched funding from the City with the help of more than 700 households and dozens of foundations and businesses who value this special site and appreciate the vital role that Denver’s parks, shared spaces, and special places play in all our lives. The Save Our Sundial Project is still accepting gifts to the Save Our Sundial Fund. Gifts already received in excess of what’s needed for the reconstruction as well as additional donations will be placed in an endowment account to fund ongoing preservation of the sundial, mosaic mountain panorama, and plaza. To get involved today by making a tax-deductible gift online, please visit: Save Our Sundial
In addition to the main restoration project at the Sundial Terrace, new sidewalks will be installed along First Avenue, from Cherry Street to Bellaire St, and from First Street along Belo Horizonte up to the Sundial Terrace. The sidewalk will be ADA compliant, and will feature a park bench with an adjacent area for wheelchair bound guests to sit with their friends. Included in this plan is an area along First Avenue for an ADA compliant porta-potty to be seasonally available for park visitors. Construction is expected to be complete by the end of 2018 and we are hopeful this will improve a pedestrian’s safe access to the park from the neighborhood.
Oct 3 It’s Time!
It was a picture perfect Colorado day for the ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the completion of the Sundial Terrace reconstruction. Also see the Facebook page for the Save Our Sundial Project for more photos on the ribbon cutting ceremony and the progress on the reconstruction over the past few months (and years!). See the video of the ribbon cutting ceremony here
May 29 2018 Update to Cranmer Park Terrace restoration project:
The weather has been cooperative and work has been proceeding at a good pace. Denise Sanderson, Co-Chair of the Save Our Sundial project is keeping tabs on the project and shares the following update: Stone Masons Working at the Sundial Terrace.
December 2017 Update to Cranmer Park Terrace restoration project:
Groundbreaking ceremony for the project was held on December 18, 2017 under beautiful Colorado blue skies with a crowd of dignitaries and neighbors to help celebrate this long awaited event. Expected competition of the project is September or October of 2018. The Save Our Sundial Committee of The Park People and DPR thank you for your understanding and continued support for this project.
